Michigan fruit growers tax selves for research

March 14, 2014 | AP The state's tree fruit producers have voted to tax themselves to create the Michigan Tree Fruit Research & Development Program.

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Jamie Clover Adams announced the voting results Wednesday.

The state says the program will support research and technical support for growers to make them more competitive.

The department says it got 253 valid ballots, with 181 producers voting yes and 72 voting no. The vote took place Feb. 17-28.

The program will tax apples, cherries, peaches, and plums starting April 1.

A department spokeswoman says the producers petitioned the state to create the program. She says there's no estimate on how much the levies will bring in annually and says re venue will vary widely with crop yields.